Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-16


SOME PAINFUL CONTRASTS.
Fannie B. Wards Mexican Letter.
Let US take look from my balcony at old Yaute-
pee. Though in the month OF November, there
are signs OF ''wailing winds and naked woods, y
fer the melancholy days never come In this land OF
sunshine. Now that the rainy seasons over, the
country is at its best and greenest The roses are
simply Gorgeous; strawberries and oranges are
ripening together, and the soft air Is odorous
with tropical fruits and flowers The charming
little plaza In the center OF the town-with It's
rustllng palms and broad-leaved bananas, and It's
pansy -bordered walks hedged by giant rose
trees, which are trained 10 overarch and EN-
bower the winding pathways-is the most typical
bit OF spanish realty have found In Mexico. AT
night, when the surrounding shops are lighted,
and men and women saunter about smoking the
universal cigarette, aud the sweetest music on
earth, that OF mandolin and guitar, Nils the fra
grant air beneath a yellow southern moon, one
can readily fancy himself In Old Granada or among
the vine-clad hills OF the Guadalquiyer. But on /!
light murmurtng fountains and loyelit eyes are
not all OF life In this dreamy country. Take just
being as fond OF pets are the gentle sisterhood
In other parts OF the world, many OF them
choose, not cats or parrots or pugs but pigs, for
mon here 70 meet woman leading by a string a
the beast has ceased 10 deserve ms Jdeue ieIc be
literally shares her bed and board.
Misanthropic Genius.
TWO CINCINNATI ARTISTS WHO HAVE FOR 30 YEARS
EvADED THEIR FAMILIES AND FORMER ASSOCIATES.
Cincinnati dispatch to the Boston GLOBE says;
A most peculiar case OF mfsanthropy and self-im
posed secluson has Just come TO light In this city
in which two men OF undoubted genius, and at ont
time very prominent I'm artistic circles have been
hid from the world and their most Intimate friends
for nearly a generation, though residing within
gunshot OF them, and living, too, ia the most alb
ject poverty, when they might almost without
efort, have lived In luxury and have won honors
and fortune
For nearly thirty years Edward Crealand and
George Bryce have lived In the same little dingy,
dirty foriorn back room On the upper roor OF the
Old tenement house at East 30 street. They neld
no intercourse with the other tenants, and, so far
as their nelghbors could see, with no one outside.
The olher day a gentleman stumbled upon them,
who had known one OF them In better days, and
proclaimed him to be a once famous painter, who
had disappeared from the view OF his friends and
the word a generation ago.
Years ago Edward Creaiand was young artist
here who gave unusual promise OF greatness. He
are In many Cincinnati houses and are valued
very highly, all the more because the artist was
supposed TO have died thirty years ago. one prize
picture was that OF a dog, which some person by
careleSsness or design mu,ilateI by punching out
an eye. The picture, however, was sold at a high
figure, but the sensitive soul OF the artist was
wounded trreparably. He LETT this city and went
to Dayton, but soon disappeared from there and
no trace OF him was every found. He was sup
posed 10 be dead, when in fact he had all that time
been living In the very heart or MS native city.
The Case OF Bryce is very similar. tie Is a
ScOtchman, and when young was an artist or more
than usual promise and attainment His his
tory Is not SO well known as that or his companion
in solitude but IL is known that he became soured
on the world many years ago, and determined TO
i've only for his art. He wandered away from his
fathers home here, and somehow got acquainted
with Crealand, and the TWO congenial spirits,
synpathizlng with each other In their love for art
and their disgust for the world, have been close
companions ever since. They are greatly attached
TO each other, and spend most OF their time In
friendly discussion, chiefly on theology, art, and
the uncharitableness OF the world they have lefL
niture, and the rats have free entrance, In fact
furnish company for the two old misanthropes
The dingy walls are covered with paintings any
one OF which would sell for enough TO put the
friends beyond the reach OF want but which they
absolutely refuse 70 part with at any price, be-
cause they have sworn the world shall never
again have an opportunity 70 sneer at or condemn
their work.
They live on the cheapest food, mostly only
bread and coffee, and wear only the poorest and
cheapest clothing. BY the making OF sketches for
engravers and ike work they manage 10 subsist
and 70 buy paints and canvas for the Indulgence
OF their love for art, which has become q perfect
mania with them. When their room will no longer
hold their paintings they destroy more or less OF
them, utterly refusing 70 give any away, and then
begin over again.
Row that their friends have found them out they
are not only willing but anxious TO help them but
nothing will these two singular old hermts ac-
cept pTeferng their life OF poverty, with the rats
as tneir companions and their pictures, with indie
pepdence and scorn for the world, TO any OF the
comforts they have 80 long done without